24 Pictures of Shih Tzu Yorkie mix (a.k.a Shorkie) and Breed Info

A few years ago a friend of mine was pet-sitting a Shih Tzu Yorkie mix (Shorkie) and, knowing that I love dogs, she brought him to see me.

I instantly fell in love with this adorable ball of soft fur! He was one of the cutest dogs I had ever met, and it was hard to say goodbye to him after our time together.

Shorkies are known to be great companions. They are small, affectionate and playful. Keep reading to find out more about this lovable breed.

Shih Tzu Yorkie mix Pictures

What is the Temperament of a Shorkie?

Your Shih Tzu Yorkie will be loving, loyal, playful, and intelligent. He will want to be with you constantly and will cuddle up in your lap at every chance he can. Early socialization is important for your Shorkie; he will get along with other animals and children as long as he is exposed to them at a young age.

Shorkies become very attached to their humans and can experience separation anxiety if left alone for an extended period of time. It is best not to leave them alone for more than a few hours at a time.

Get your cuteness for the day by checking out this video of a Shorkie puppy and a baby having a conversation!

What do Shih Tzu Yorkies look like?

Shorkies are small dogs with a medium length coat. Their legs and bodies are short, and they have floppy ears. They have shiny, silky hair and do not shed. They come in various colors including black, white, chocolate, tan, red or any combo of these.

Your full grown Shih Tzu Yorkie will be 7 to 15lbs, and 6 to 14 inches in height.

What Care is Required for Shorkies?

Due to their small size, Shorkies can easily live in apartments and a yard is not necessary. They require little exercise; 20 minutes of activity per day is enough for this breed.

Shih Tzu Yorkie mixes are sensitive to weather and will need to wear a sweater in cold temperatures. They also need to be brushed daily, and it is advised to trim their coat every six weeks. They should be bathed once every two weeks.

Shorkies are predisposed to oral health issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease, so it is necessary to feed your furry friend dry dog food. A high-quality dry kibble that is specific for small dogs is best. Recommended brands are:

Iams Naturistic Adult Small Bites

Simply Nourish Healthy Weight Small Breed Adult

Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Dog Food

Are Shih Tzu Yorkies Easy to Train?

Shorkies are intelligent dogs and therefore are relatively easy to train. They do have a short attention span and can be stubborn, so you need to be patient with them. Keep training sessions short, and ensure that you remain upbeat and calm.

Shih Tzu Yorkie mixes adapt quickly, and are well behaved. Your companion wants to please you and will work hard to do so. He will respond well to praise and treats during training.

It is also important to ensure that when training your Shorkie, you focus on one command at a time. Once he has mastered that command, you can move on.

Do Shorkies have any Health Risks?

As with any designer breed, Shorkies are at risk of developing any health conditions that are common for their parent breeds, Shih Tzus and Yorkies. Luckily, your Shih Tzu Yorkie mix is a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

Health issues to watch for with your Shorkie include:

Hip dysplasia

Umbilical Hernia

Eye problems

Dental problems

Kidney and Liver problems

Ear infections

How Much do Shorkies Cost?

The initial cost of your Shih Tzu Yorkie mix will range from $375 to $1750. His yearly medical needs will cost $435 to $535; this includes check-ups, shots, flea prevention, and insurance. Other yearly costs, such as food, toys, treats, training and grooming, will range from $530 to $630.

Conclusion

Shorkies are sweet, loyal, affectionate and playful dogs. They are intelligent, easy to train, and have minimal health risks. They are also incredibly cute! They are good with kids and would be a great companion dog for a family, a single person or older people.

Inviting this adorable breed into your home will bring you years of joy, friendship, and love. Your Shih Tzu Yorkie mix will follow you around, play fetch, and settle into your lap for cuddles at the end of the day.

Please comment below and let us know if you have any questions, or share a story about your Shorkie!

About Animalso

I was raised to be a dog person. My first shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love.

Comments

I love my shitzu yorkie he is really smart and loveable but when playing fetch he wants me to throw his toy but will not bring it all the way back i have to get up take couple of steps to get it then hes ready to go again really stingy with it took it right out of my granddaughters hand lol

Plenty of toys which she will probably shred…toss them and get some more. There are also Bully Sticks (NOTE FROM EDITOR: Purchase from Amazon here) which she’ll probably love. Have plenty on hand. Not for constant feeding, just lets her gnaw on something. Mine devoured hers in 2 hours. It was small, but she loved it. Just watch and as it gets too small take it from her and toss it. Don’t want your baby to choke. My Shorkie is 5 and still loves to play with her toys and runs around the house with them squeaking them. If that irritates you, just use a pin to poke a hole in the plastic squeeker.

Sharkeys love to chew. My four-year-old gizmo still puts my fingers in his mouth. It’s more of a love Chew then it is a bite and he never break the skin. My dog is so smart he will put my fingers in his mouth and put them where he wants me to pet him! It is the cutest and funniest thing ever.

My 7 month old Shorkie loves to chew also. She is gentle when it is our fingers now as we spent time telling her “no” when the bites were a little too hard. Also, we would withdraw the hand while telling her no. We also provide her with chew toys (NOTE FROM EDITOR: Purchase from Amazon here). Hard, sometimes flavored. She loves them and can chew away on them as long as she wants. This also avoided the problem of chewing on furniture, shoes etc

I just adopted a female shorkie named Lolly, who is 21 weeks old. She is a wonderful addition to our family. My Husband and I have fallen in love with our little furbaby, and will spend our time spoiling her rotten.

I’ve had my shorkie for 5 weeks since she was 9wks. I started introducing her to family members pets, dogs and cats, immediately. She continues to be cautious around large dogs but adjusts quickly around my nephews Golden once she feels safe.

She now loves meeting new playmates and does well with cats if the cats are okay with dogs. Since these puppies are full of energy and think everything is there for them to play with, be mindful of the pet friends you introduce your pup to. Our 16 yr old cat grew up with our 3 dogs (all now gone) and tolerates the pup but doesn’t want that much energy around her now.

The pup has learned this but continues to run up to the cat to play when the cat hits floor. Pup will quickly back off once she receives a quick hiss to say “go away” from the old lady. Then pup loses interest and wags off in another direction.

Our adorable female shorkie is now 3 years old. She is very energetic and active. We have a large yard which she races around multiple times a day. She also LOVES to chew on anything/everything. She was difficult to train but is now pretty well trained (when she isn’t being stubborn).

We have a shorkie and he is 14 months old and has started scratching himself like he is itching . He rubs his face on everything trying to scratch it . We gave bought allergy shampoo for dogs(NOTE FROM EDITOR: Purchase from Amazon here) and tried several remedies we found online. Has anyone else had this problem

I’ve had same problem with my Nugget. He scratches in some spots like behind his front legs until raw. and around his neck I will trim fur and rub in neosporin. Vet has given me allergy pills, I’ve given him children’s benydryl, he continues to scratch. Not as much, but still does. Tea tree oil baths have also helped.

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